Air conditioning damper



July 27, 1965 L. s. DAYUS 3,196,895

AIR CONDITIONING DAMPE R Filed Nov. 29, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor LLOYD s. DAYUS by: W

AIR CONDITIONING DAMPER FiledPiNbV. 29*, 1962: 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor LLOYD s. DAYUS July 27, 1965 G. DAYUS 3,196,895

AIR CONDITIONING DAMPER Filed Nov. 29, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 F/GJ I6 I I "\\1\|'|'/'l'/' I7 24 25 27 25 23 27 24 25 FIGS Inventor LLOYD G. DAYUS United States Patent Alli; (IGNDITIGNENG DAMEER Lloyd G. Dayus, 7 Hunthiii Court, lslington, @ntario, Canada Filed Nov. 29, 1962, Ser. Ne. 240,906 Claims priority, application Canada, flan. Ill, 1962, 839,731 3 Claims. (Cl. 137-270) This invention relates to a device for controlling air fiow such as can be used for restricting how in air conditioning and heating systems in which a plurality of damper vanes are actuated from a single point to occlude or partially occlude an air passage.

In the manufacture of conventional air flow controllers or dampers as they are commonly called it is usual practice to provide a plurality of parallely spaced damper vanes rotatably supported in a frame and interconnected by means of rods and other various linkages, whereby simultaneous movement of the vanes is achieved. Thus the vanes, which are usually in the form of flat metal blades, may be turned from an in-line position with regard to an air stream or may be progressively turned normal to the stream direction to control the amount of air flowing.

There are two basic methods of damper vane movement in common accepted use, one of which is the provision of a plurality of parallely spaced vanes interconnected for rotation in the same direction, whereas the second provides vanes interconnected for rotation in two directions, whereby adjacent vanes turn in opposite irections.

Air flow control in the form of a damper is used in air conditioning and heating systems in the various air discharge pipes or ducts. It is conventional practice to use an air diifuser or louver at the exterior end of the duct such as on a wall or ceiling and to provide an air flow control device or damper immediately behind or upstream from the diffuser.

In the case where a straight through flow of air in the duct is desirable the damper vanes are connected for opposite rotation in pairs where the air stream deflection due to one vane is cancelled by the adjacent vane. If defiection of the air in one direction is desirable or at least of no consequence then the damper vanes may be connected for uni-directional rotation.

One disadvantage with conventional dampers is the multiplicity of parts required to provide the necessary vane movement particularly in the case where the vanes turn in opposite directions. The usual practice is to provide a number of spot welded and riveted parts which increases the cost of manufacture and often leads to early failure of the damper.

Whereas both systems of damper closure are required, based upon the air flow characteristics desired the usual methods employed lead to further disadvantages of large inventory and increased problems of stock control.

Accordingly, it is the main object of this invention to provide a device for controlling air flow employing either one of two sets of vanes and constructed from a number of parts which can be assembled to provide either unidirectional closure of one said sets or duo-directional clo sure of pairs of vanes of the other said sets.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for controlling air flow utilizing identical parts for portions of the construction, whereby an economy of different parts is obtained.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for controlling air flow incorporating a locking feature for the fully open and for the fully closed positions.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device for controlling air fiow utilizing integral construction to reduce the required number of parts.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a device for controlling air fiow using a method of constructure, whereby operating parts are held in operative relationship by an assembled frame.

The present invention seeks to achieve the foregoing objects as well as other objects and features, such as will be apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which like characters refer to like parts, by providing a plurality of damper vanes rotatably mounted and connected to a single operating member for actuation thereof, the parts being held in operative relationship by an assembled frame.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one embodiment of this invention illustrating the individual parts in operable relationship to provide a plurality of damper vanes connected for rotation in one direction;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second embodiment of this invention being similar to that as illustrated in FIGURE 1 except in this case the damper vanes are connected for rotation in two directions;

FEGURE 3 is a plan view of a damper having the damper vanes connected according to the manner as illustrated in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 6-6 in FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 7 is a view of a key to be used in operating a damper.

With reference to FIGURE 1, the embodiment of the present invention as illustrated, being a damper designated generally as 11 comprises two side members l2, l2 and two end members 15 (only one shown) assembled at common ends to form a frame having a rectangular configuration indicated generally as 14. Frame 14 is preferably joined at the corners thereof by providing projections 15 at both ends of end members 13 which are inserted through mating holes in both ends of side members 12, whereafter the material of projections 15 is upset to lock them within the holes and to rigidity frame 1- Side members 12 are provided with a plurality of holes 16 equally spaced along the length thereof at a predetermined distance between them. Members l2, 12 are also provided with a rib 17 on the inner surface which extends for substantially the full length thereof. It will be noted that rib 17 common to both side members l2, 12 is also common to end members 13 which is true for all distinguishing characteristics of the sectional configuration of all members 12 and 13. In this manner all such side and end members 12 and 13 may be made from strip material having a uniform cross section such as for instance a rolled or extruded shape.

A damping vane operating member 18 having an elongate, strip-like configuration is placed adjacent to the inner side of one end member 12 and is supported thereon above a longitudinal rib 17, thus being mounted for reciprocal movement along member 12. A plurality of clearance slots 19 are formed in member 18, being spaced along the length substantially centrally thereof, the spacing being at a predetermined distance substantially equal to the distance between holes 16 in side members 12.

The damper llll is also provided with a plurality of damper vanes 29 rotatably supported within frame 14 by engagement of shafts 21 in holes 16. The ends of shafts 21 are preferably upset in order to increase frictional resistance of damper vanes 20 to prevent loose movement thereof. Further details of the relationship and operation of member 18 and dampers 2%) are illustrated in FIG- URE 4 and FIGURE 6 and will be subsequently discussed.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, a damper indicated generally as 22 Comprises, as with damper II, a frame 14 having located therein a reciprocable damper vane operating member 18. In this case, a plurality of damper vanes 2t) are rotatably mounted within frame 14 being supported by shafts 21 in alternate pairs of holes 16 in side members 12, 12. A further number of damper vanes 23 are rotatably supported in holes 16 being positioned between damper vanes 20 in an alternate manner. Further details of member 18 and damper vanes 2t and 23 are illustrated in FIGURE and FIGURE 6 which will be subsequently discussed.

With reference to FIGURE 4 and FIGURE 6, the section illustrated in FIGURE 4 shows side members 12 and operating member 18 supported thereon. Damper vanes 29 are shown in position, the shafts 21 (not shown) extending through slots 19 and rotatably supported in holes 16. A crank arm 24 is, in this case, formed from an extension on each damper vane 2d and is offset from the axis of rotation of the vane. The ends of crank arms 2-4 are held in slidable engagement in a plurality of crank slots 25 which are of elongate configuration, and placed normal to clearance slots 19, being formed in operating member 13 to one side of slots 19 so as to form pairs of equispaced slots 12 and 25. As will be seen in FIGURE 6 the ends of crank arms 24 project through slots 25 to terminate just short of the inner face of side member 12. A second set of crank slots 26 are formed in member 1% to the side of slots 19 remote from slots 25 in an alternate manner, that is adjacent every other clearance slot 1%. Although in this embodiment as illustrated in FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 4 slots as are not used, the use of such slots will become apparent in the discussion of FIGURE 5.

It will be noted that the central portion 27 of damper vane 26 has a hollowed out sectional configuration, whereby the ends of shafts 21 may be readily upset to expand them in order to increase the resistance to movement of vanes 29 and 23 as previously described.

Referring to FIGURE 5, it will be seen that operating member 18 is shown mounted on side member 12, a plurality of damper vanes being rotatably mounted in holes 16 in an alternate manner and damper vanes 23 are rotatably mounted in holes 16 therebetween as previously described in FIGURE 2. As before crank arms 24 are slidably located in slots for reciprocal movement therein. In this case, a crank arm 28 is formed from an extension on each damper vane 23, the ends of crank arms 28 being held in slidable engagement within slots 26. As before central portion 27 of damper vanes 20 and 23 are hollowed out for the reason as described.

As shown in FIGURE 4 and FIGURE 5, the lengthwise edges 22 of damper vanes 25 are formed at an angle to the vane, whereby upon closure of the vanes edges 29 butt together to substantially prevent air from flowing through damper 11. The edges 36 of damper vanes 23 as illustrated in FIGURE 5 are also formed at an angle, whereby upon closure of vanes 20 and 23, edges 29 and 3t) butt together to close off damper 22 and prevent air from flowing therethrough.

With particular reference to FIGURE 6 and also with reference to FIGURES 1, 3 and 4 a damper actuator assembly indicated generally as 31 comprises a toggle support 32 secured to operating member 13 by means of rivet 33. A toggle 34 rests on support 32 and has a shaft 35 secured thereto and projecting through a slot 35 in support 32. Secured to side member 12 by rivet 37 is a toggle bearing plate 38 which projects through a hole 39 in side member 12 to secure a boss 40 on toggle 34 rotatably within a hole 41 therein. A key slot 42 is formed in toggle 34 through boss 40 and receives therewithin a key 43 shaped as shown in FIGURE 7.

The details of actuator assembly 31 while just described for damper 11 are identical for damper 22 as well. Thus, the only difference between dampers 11 and 22 is the provision of a plurality of damper vanes 20 for damper 11 and a plurality of damper vanes 20 and 23 installed in an alternate manner for damper 22.

Key 4-3 comprises stem 44 and handle 45 having edges 46 and 47 formed at the angles 45 and 22 respectively to stem 44. A detent 48 of upset material is preferably provided at one end of stem 44 to aid in holding key within key slot 42 in toggle 34.

In order to utilize this invention, damper 11 or 22 may first be assembled from the component parts as described the only difference being the use of damper vanes 29 and 23 or damper vanes 20 exclusively. Upon key 43 being placed within key slot 42 and turned toggle 34 will rotate in bearing plate 38 swinging shaft 35 to one side or the other. Movement of shaft 35 in slot 36 will cause support 32 to drag operating member 18 to one side and thus actuate crank arms 24 in the case of damper II and crank arms 24 and 28 in the case of damper 22.

Referring to damper 11 as illustrated in FIGURE 4 movement of member 18 to the left of the drawing will cause clockwise rotation of damper vanes 20 until edges 29 butt on each other thus occluding the space within frame 14. Upon movement of member 18 to the right of the drawing damper vanes 20 will be rotated in an anti-clockwise manner until all vanes are in alignment with the normal airflow through damper 11 thus offering little obstruction to air flowing therethrough. By suitably adjusting key 43, any intermediate flow of air may be obtained, the resistance to rotation given to vanes 20 by upsetting the ends of shafts 21 preventing the air stream from turning the vanes.

In a similar manner, movement of member 18 in damper 22 as illustrated in FIGURE 5 will cause dual rotation of damper vanes 20 and 23 from the closed or the open position, since crank arms 24 and 28 being disposed to opposite sides of the axes of rotation of vanes 20 and 23 will cause said vanes to rotate in opposite directions upon movement of member 18 in one direction.

As will be seen in FIGURE 3 and FIGURE 6, rotation of toggle 34 to an extreme position of travel will cause shaft 35 to pass the centre line of boss 40 thus locking member 18 from reverse movement. This is true of either extreme to the left or right, whereby the damper vanes 20 and 23 may be locked in the fully open or fully closed position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention comprises a device for controlling air flow having a plurality of articulated dampers rotatably supported within a frame and having a common operating member connected to each said damper by crank means for simultaneous movement thereof.

While preferred embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be understood that various alterations in design may be resorted to while still falling within the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is: I

I. In an air flow controller having a plurality of articulated damper vanes parallely positioned and rotatably supported within a frame at a predetermined distance from each other and where simultaneous movement of said damper vanes occludes the opening of said frame the combination of:

four side members forming said frame, opposite members being identical;

an operating member supported within said frame adjacent one said side members for reciprocal movement therealong, said operating member being positioned normal to said axes of rotation and adjacent said common ends of said damper vanes and having clearance slots therein through which said damper i3 vanes are rotatably supported by said one side member;

crank hearings in said operating member, at least some of said crank bearings arranged alternately in pairs, one each said bearing of said pairs disposed to either side of said clearance slots, the spacing of said pairs being substantially equal to said predetermined distance;

crank arms formed on said damper vanes at common ends thereof and positioned eccentric to the axis of rotation thereof, said crank arms adapted to be movably secured in said bearings positioned to one side of said axes of rotation and, alternatively, in said hearings to either side of said axes of rotation, in an alternative manner whereby reciprocal movement of said operating member will rotate said damper vanes to progressively open and close said air flow controller.

2. In an air flow controller havin a plurality of articulated damper vanes parallely positioned and rotatably supported within a frame at a predetermined distance from each other and Where simultaneous movement of said damper vanes occludes the opening of said frame the combination of:

four side members forming said frame, opposite members being identical; an operating member supported by one said side members for reciprocal movement therealong, said operating member being positioned normal to said axes of rotation and adjacent said common ends of said damper vanes;

bearings in said operating member, at least some of said bearings arranged in pairs, one each said hearing of said pairs disposed to either side of said axes of rotation, the spacing between said pairs being substantially equal to said predetermined distance;

crank arms secured to each said damper vanes at common ends thereof and positioned eccentric to the axes of rotation thereof;

said crank arms adapted to be movably secured in said bearings positioned to one side of said axes of rotation and, alternatively, in said hearings to either side of said axes of rotation, in an alternative manner, whereby reciprocal movement of said operating member will rotate said damper vanes to progressively open and close said air flow controller;

a toggle support secured to said operating member and having a slot formed therein;

a toggle bearing secured to said one side member adjacent said operating member;

and, a toggle rotatably supported in said bearing having a shaft therein projecting through said slot in said toggle support, whereby rotation of said toggle will move said toggle support and thus said operating member.

3. In an air flow controller having a piurality of articulated damper vanes parallely positioned and rotatably supported Within a frame at a predetermined distance from each other and Where simultaneous movement of said damper vanes occludes the opening of said frame the combination of:

two side members and two end members rigidly secured at four corners to form said frame thus definin" a substantially rectangular opening Within said frame, each said side members being identical and each said end members being identical;

shafts extending from each end of each said damper vanes, each said shafts inserted through holes in said side members for rotation therein, said holes eing spaced along said side members at said predetermined distance;

an operating member supported within said frame on one said side members for reciprocal movement therealong, and having clearance slots therein through which said shafts project, said damper vanes thus securing said operating member from movement away from said one side member;

crank arms formed integrally with said damper vanes at ends adjacent to said operating member, said crank arms positioned eccentric to the axes of rotation of said damper vanes;

said crank arms adapted to be movably engageable with crank slots formed in said operating member adjacent said clearance slots and positioned to one side of said axes of rotation of said damper vanes, and, alternatively, With crank slots formed in said operating member adjacent said clearance slots and positioned to either side of said axes of rotation of said vanes in an alternative manner, whereby reciprocal movement of said operating member will rotate said damper vanes to progressively open and close said controller;

a toggle support secured to said operating member and having a slot formed therein;

a toggle bearing secured to said one side member adjacent said operating member; 7 and, a toggle rotatably supported in said bearing having a shaft therein projecting through said slot in said toggle support, whereby rotation of said toggle will move said toggle support and thus said operating member.

References titted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 629,680 7/99 Hamalian 20-62 2,191,700 2/40 Stetson 137270 2,780,983 2/57 De R00 981l0 3,049,985 8/62 Klingberg 931l0 WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN AIR FLOW CONTROLLER HAVING A PLURALITY OF ARTICULATED DAMPER VANES PARALLELY POSITIONED AND ROTATABLY SUPPORTED WITHIN A FRAME AT A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM EACH OTHER AND WHERE SIMULTANEOUS MOVEMENT OF SAID DAMPER VANES OCCLUDES THE OPENING OF SAID FRAME THE COMBINATION OF: FOUR SIDE MEMBERS FORMING SAID FRAME, OPPOSITE MEMBERS BEING IDENTICAL; AN OPERATING MEMBER SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID FRAME ADJACENT ONE SAID SIDE MEMBERS FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT THEREALONG, SAID OPERATING MEMBER BEING POSITIONED NORMAL TO SAID AXIS OF ROTATION AND ADJACENT SAID COMMON ENDS OF SAID DAMPER VANES AND HAVING CLEARANCE SLOTS THEREIN THROUGH WHICH SAID DAMPER VANES ARE ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID ONE SIDE MEMBER; CRANK BEARINGS IN SAID OPERATING MEMBER, AT LEAST SOME OF SAID CRANK BEARINGS ARRANGED ALTERNATELY IN PAIRS, ONE EACH OF SAID BEARING OF SAID PAIRS DISPOSED TO EITHER SIDE OF SAID CLEARANCE SLOTS, THE SPACING OF SAID PAIRS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO SAID PREDETERMINED DISTANCE; CRANK ARMS FORMED ON SAID DAMPER VANES AT COMMON ENDS THEREOF AND POSITIONED ECCENTRIC TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION THEREOF, SAID CRANK MEANS ADAPTED TO BE MOVABLY SECURED IN SAID BEARINGS POSITIONED TO ONE SIDE OF SAID AXES OF ROTATION AND, ALTERNATELY, IN SAID BEARINGS TO EITHER SIDE OF SAID AXES OF ROTATION, IN AN ALTERNATIVE MANNER WHEREBY RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT OF SAID OPERATING MEMBER WILL ROTATE SAID DAMPER VANES TO PROGRESSIVELY OPEN AND CLOSE SAID AIR FLOW CONTROLLER. 